By Tony Edwards – SAN JOSE, CA (Mar 31, 2011) US Soccer Players -- One day you’re on the fringes of a team in the Bundesliga after having success as a member of the Under-17 US National Team. You’re playing in a huge stadium in front of demanding fans. Then the next summer you’re playing in a men’s league outside Seattle and taking college courses. You know you can play at the professional level, but you’re wondering if you’re going to get the opportunity. Six months later, you’re making your Major League Soccer debut as your coach subs you on in the season opener.
Ellis McLoughlin’s name was little noticed when it appeared as an addition to the San Jose Earthquakes squad the day before the start of their 2011 season. McLoughlin entered in the 72nd minute of that game against Real Salt Lake and confidently took on defenders and unleashed powerful shots with either foot. He’s already showing a refreshing willingness to attack, and perhaps offers the Earthquakes a much needed second option behind Chris Wondolowski.
How McLoughlin got to Buck Shaw Stadium stands as an object lesson for all young American players who believe Europe is the only way to go.
As noted on this website a year ago, McLoughlin had a tryout with Seattle while he was still under contract to Hertha Berlin in 2010. That 2009-10 season ws a tough one for Hertha.
“I wasn’t getting a lot of chances to play,” McLoughlin said last week after practice. “We were trying to avoid relegation and the team changed coaches.”
McLoughlin tried out in Seattle, but the Sounders went with Blaise Nkufo instead. When Hertha was relegated, McLoughlin found himself a free agent.
“I had a first division contract with Hertha,” he said. “I could have signed with a second or third division team in Germany, but I wanted to come back to the United States. I knew I didn‘t want to end up in the same situation I was just in with Hertha.”
Without a team and with the MLS season already underway, McLoughlin headed back home, to Washington State.
“I took some classes at the University of Washington and played for a team up in Seattle,” he said.
So good so far. So this was a PDL team or an NPSL team?
“It was a men’s league team. A really good one,” he says with a low laugh, knowing exactly how that sounds. “No question, it was a reality check, but I never thought about quitting,” he said. “I knew I could play but I did wonder if I was going to get an opportunity.”
Even though McLoughlin had made his name with the U-17 National Team, and was literally in the Sounders backyard, this men’s league team turned out to be his way back.
“One of the guys on this team played with Ian Russell at the University of Washington,” McLoughlin said. “He’s still in touch with Ian and gave him a call.”
So while McLoughlin had the good words of a friend of an assistant coach in his favor, and MLS was adding a reserve league, he still had to prove himself once he got to training camp.
“A few weeks later, I was offered a contract and happy to sign,” he said.
McLoughlin, only 20, finds himself being asked for advice by other players about whether Europe is the right place to further their careers.
“What I tell people is that you have to make sure the coach is in good standing with the club,” he said. “If things go wrong, a lot of teams will panic and fire their coach, then the new coach will want to bring in his own players.”
“Its all about getting games and building confidence,” he continued. ““I was really lucky to end up in San Jose with coaches like Frank (Yallop), Ian, and Mark (Watson),” he said. “From the first day they’ve encouraged me and gave me an opportunity.”
Now it’s up to McLoughlin to take it, showing how his Bundesliga experience translates. For Quakes fans, there’s hope that they’ve found a player that managed to slip unnoticed into their lineup and will make a major difference in 2011.
Tony Edwards is a soccer writer based in the Bay Area.
